World News - Saying "I Do" — Willingly, This Time Forced To Marry In Khmer Rouge Cambodia, Couples Renew Vows 20 Years Later

Called in from the fields of his forced labor camp without explanation, Roth Chheng had every reason to assume that the Khmer Rouge was going to execute him as indiscriminately as it had slaughtered his compatriots for walking with a limp, speaking out of turn, or stealing a potato. But that 1977 day, when Roth Chheng entered the empty dining hall, an official from the ultra-Maoist regime ordered the bewildered 27-year-old to hold hands with a young woman he'd never laid eyes on before: They were married, then and there, in a five-minute ceremony. Dressed in his soiled work clothes, Roth Chheng numbly assented — yes, they would live together and love each other forever; yes, they would be eternally faithful to the regime — barely registering the broad-faced 25-year-old woman holding his hand. The slightest sign of insubordination might lead to torture or worse — certain death if he'd refused. ... http://www.cbsnews.com

Police will open a criminal investigation Tuesday into Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's role in the privatization of an Israeli bank, the Justice Ministry said. The ministry said a preliminary investigation raised allegations that in 2005, Olmert favored business associates as finance minister during the sell-off of a controlling share of Bank Leumi, one of Israel's largest financial institutions. If Olmert is indicted, he would have to step down, according to legal precedents. The Justice Ministry said the preliminary investigation of the allegations raised in a report by the state comptroller about the bank sale "led to the conclusion that a foundation of evidence has been built that would justify opening a criminal investigation." Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a decision would be made later Tuesday about which police unit would carry out the investigation....http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2798608

One of France's last World War I veterans, Rene Riffaud, has died at age 108, leaving just three known French survivors of the 1914-18 conflict, the National Veterans Office said Tuesday. Riffaud died overnight Tuesday, said Marie-Georges Vingadassalon, a spokeswoman for the office. Of the three surviving World War I veterans, the oldest Louis de Cazenave is 109, according to the veterans' office. Only belatedly, in 2006, did France recognize Riffaud as a veteran of the war, giving him an official veteran's card after his granddaughter brought his case to the government's attention. In a November interview with The Associated Press before attending Armistice Day commemorations in Paris, Riffaud played down his war role. "I did like everyone else, I went with the flow. I was mobilized like all other citizens," he said. "The war was a massacre," he said....http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2798604

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul to discuss ways of combating resurgent Taleban fighters. Mr Gates told reporters after the talks that he was concerned at Taleban activity in the Pakistan border region. But he said Pakistan was a close ally working hard to deal with the problem. Mr Gates also met commanders of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. He made no firm commitment on whether more US troops would sent to the country. 'Come and get beaten' Addressing a joint news conference with Mr Karzai, the US defence secretary called attacks from over the border in Pakistan and al-Qaeda networks operating there "a problem". "These are issues that we clearly will have to pursue with the Pakistani government," he said. For his part, President Karzai was asked about the spring offence threatened by the Taleban. The Afghan people and the international community, he said, are ready for them when they come. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6265799.stm

A painful chapter in Switzerland's recent history has been re-opened after some of the country's top business leaders went on trial in Zurich. In dispute, their role in the collapse of Swissair just over five years ago. For 70 years Swissair was one of the world's most successful airlines, regarded as a proud symbol of Swiss efficiency and good business practices. When it went bankrupt in October 2001, there was shock across the country as well as grief and shame. The trial is one of the biggest of its kind ever to take place anywhere in the world. Five years ago, the planes that once carried the Swiss flag around the world were grounded, thousands of passengers were stranded and Swissair pilots were forced to hand over wads of cash to pay for fuel to get home. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6265289.stm

MI5 has overhauled an e-mail terror alert system for the public following detective work by privacy activists. Digital detective work by campaigners revealed that the alerting system did little to protect the identities of anyone signing up. They found that data gathered was being stored in the US leading to questions about who would have access to the list of names and e-mail addresses. The Cabinet Office denies the changes were a response to the investigation. The public e-mail alert system was announced on 9 January and will send messages to subscribers when threat levels change. The move followed the success of similar public information systems started by MI5 and the Home Office in August. Despite the announcement no sign-up form for the service was available on the MI5 website at the time of the unveiling. This was despite claims from the Home Office that the system had been under development for some time....http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6262719.stm